Incumbent Jacky Rosen (D) and Sam Brown (R) are running for toss-up U.S. Senate race in Nevada


Incumbent Jacky Rosen (D), Sam Brown (R), and seven other candidates are running in Nevada’s U.S. Senate election on November 5, 2024. Rosen was first elected in 2018.

Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Jessica Hill said of Nevada’s races: “Its congressional races could play a major role in determining the balance of power… particularly in what is expected to be a competitive Senate race.”

The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rated this race as a “Toss-Up.” Ballotpedia provides race forecasts from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. To see how each outlet rates the general election, click here.

Before her election to the Senate, Rosen represented Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District from 2017 to 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1979 and an associate’s degree in computing and information technology from Clark County Community College in 1985. She worked as a computer programmer and was also president of her synagogue.

Brown previously ran for Senate in 2022. Adam Laxalt (R) defeated him in the primary 55.9% to 34.2%. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. While deployed, Brown was severely wounded in an explosion. After his military career, he earned a master’s in business administration from Southern Methodist University. Brown owned a business that provided pharmaceutical support to veterans.

Rosen has focused her campaign on what she says are her bipartisan accomplishments. Rosen said: “Nevadans know my record of working across party lines to get results and taking on special interests to lower costs – it’s why I’m ranked one of the most bipartisan, independent, and effective members of the Senate.” CNN’s Eric Bradner and David Wright said: “Rosen’s ads have sought to portray the senator as a moderate, invoking her support for measures that would lower prescription drug prices and give health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. They also cast Rosen as breaking with Democratic leadership on border security.”

Brown won the Republican nomination on June 11 with the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and endorsements from Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and former President Donald Trump (R). In an advertisement, Brown said: “As a veteran, I’ll never compromise America’s security. I’ll finish Trump’s wall and stop the invasion of the border. As a small-business owner, I’ll lower prices and make Trump’s tax cuts permanent.” Brown criticized Rosen’s record, saying, “She is a foot soldier for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer … They’re all about those D.C. priorities. And she is carrying out their mission instead of ours.”

Observers have commented on the role abortion could have on the election. Rosen supports the Nevada Right to Abortion Initiative on the November ballot. NBC News’s Adam Edelman and Lindsey Pipia said: “The ballot measure could … help boost Democratic turnout in Nevada, a battleground state that is hosting competitive races for president and the U.S. Senate.” Brown said he supports letting Nevada voters decide the issue but has not publicly shared his stance on the amendment. Rosen has criticized Brown’s previous statements in favor of Texas’ 2013 abortion ban, while Brown criticized Rosen for supporting federal abortion laws that he said would potentially go farther than what Nevadans would want. To read more about abortion measures on the ballot in 2024, click here.

As of July 18, 2024, Rosen had raised $31.9 million, and Brown had raised $9.7 million. In the second quarter of fundraising ending June 30, Rosen had raised $7.6 million, and Brown raised $4 million. To see more campaign finance data, click here.

Minor party and independent candidates include Chris Cunningham (L), Joseph Destin (No Party), Janine Hansen (Independent American Party), Chris Mazlo (No Party), Allen Rheinhart (No Party), Ed Uehling (No Party), and Bradley Scott Wing (Independent).

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in 2025.

Thirty-four of 100 seats are up for election, including one special election. Of the seats up for election in 2024, Democrats hold 19, Republicans hold 11, and independents hold four. As of May 2024, eight members of the U.S. Senate had announced they were not running for re-election.